Our commitment to open broadband platforms — For several years now, many Googlers have been working to identify the obstacles that prevent the Internet from being available to everyone on the planet. It strikes us as unfair that some people should enjoy such abundant access to this rich resource …

Google dangles $4.6 billion in front of the FCC — Google said Friday that it would bid a minimum of $4.6 billion for the federal government's upcoming wireless spectrum auction-if the Federal Communications Commission creates an open wireless platform. — The wireless spectrum auction …

Next version of Windows: Call it 7 — Microsoft is planning to ship its next major version of Windows—known internally as version "7"—within roughly three years, CNET News.com has learned. — The company discussed Windows 7 on Thursday at a conference for its field sales force in Orlando …

Windows Seven: Think 2010 — Windows Seven now has an official ship target — 2010. — At Microsoft's Global Exchange (MGX) annual sales conference in Orlando this week, Microsoft shared a bit more — albeit at a high level — on Windows Seven, according to a copy of a slide deck I saw …

The Google backlash begins — The Internet search giant is having a rough week — and not just because it missed Wall Street earnings forecast. Business 2.0's Chris Taylor suggests four steps the company should take now to stem the fallout. — (Business 2.0 Magazine) …

Learning from Dave Winer — Even if you never read a single thing Dave Winer wrote in his 439 years of blogging, it's worth taking time to study his ideas about comments on blogs (he doesn't allow them). … The important thing to notice here is that Dave does not see blog comments as productive to the free exchange of ideas.

Google Lawyer Settles With SEC — David Drummond will pay the Securities and Exchange Commission almost $700,000 to settle their claims against him stemming from his work with a technology training firm. … We used to call this "no blood, no foul" when we played basketball on the playground.

Ask.com to let users scrub search records — San Francisco (IDGNS) - Search portal Ask.com plans to make it easier for Web searchers to cover their tracks. The company is introducing a new feature to its Web portal later this year called AskEraser, which will let users perform anonymous searches.

Virgin Mobile USA Boosts Initial Sale to $506 Million — Virgin Mobile USA Inc., a joint venture of billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group Ltd. and Sprint Nextel Corp., raised its planned initial public offering to $506 million, five times more than the original target.

Google kills click to call feature in Google Maps — If you were enjoying the freeness of Google Maps "click to call" feature, we're sorry to tell you this. Click to call has been discontinued, according to a post on the Google Maps Troubleshooting Google Group (say that three times fast)

Busted: Unreal Engine 3, Half-Baked, Broken and Late? — At Sony's E307 presser, Jack Tretton stood on stage, announced Epic's Unreal Tournament III as a PS3 exclusive and said that Sony was working closely with Epic to "adjust" the Unreal Engine for the PS3 so that it reaches the "best of its potential."

CBS Aims to Spread Web Content — Broadcast Network Targets 400 Sites by Fall — CBS television content will be available through 400 sites on the Internet by the fall, according to executives from the broadcast network's interactive division. — "CBS is al about open, nonexclusive partnerships …

2018 Top 100 Global Tech Leaders — 21st century technology-sector leadership requires more than financial success. It also requires a commitment to compliance, innovation, and much more. Who are today's leaders?